WORKSHOP RESIDENCE

Workshop Residence engages the worlds of craft, art, and design by pairing visiting artists and designers with local fabricators to create beautiful, useful, and affordable objects. Located in the Dogpatch, an historic and art and light-manufacturing district in San Francisco, the space is a retail store, gallery, and workshop.

ANNUAL RESIDENCY AWARD COMPETITION 2015

We are pleased to announce our second Annual Residency Competition. A jury of art & design professionals will review proposals and choose one applicant to be awarded a residency, during which we will work together to develop the proposed products to be sold in our store. The competition winner will receive travel funds, $2,000 honoraria, up to $5,000 in project budget, use of the large studio/workshop and adjacent apartment, and share revenue from the sale of their collection. Applying artists are encouraged to visit Workshop Residence during open hours, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10am to 6pm. There are no geographic eligibility requirements, and we encourage non-California residents to apply and to review our website, past projects and the Competition FAQs.

2015 JURY

TIM BROWN, CEO & PRESIDENT, IDEO Tim Brown is CEO and president of IDEO. An industrial designer by training, Tim  takes special interest in the convergence of technology and the arts, as well as the ways in which design can be used to promote the well-being of people living in emerging economies.

LESLIE ROBERTS, PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR OF DESIGN, CCA Leslie Roberts is a professor and the Director of Design at CCA.  She is the author of The Entire Earth and Sky: Views on Antartica and is the world's first Fulbright Fellow in Antarctic Studies.

ANDREW GLASGOW Andrew Glasgow is the retired Executive Director of the American Craft Council. An Alabama native, Mr. Glasgow received an Art History degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
 

Where is the Workshop Residence located? Workshop Residence is in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Our street address is: 833 22nd St, San Francisco CA.

Can only fine artists apply? Past residents come from a variety of different backgrounds, including: architecture, graphic design, science, craft, and fine art. There is no need for an applicant to have an existing portfolio or exhibition record; we will consider the strength of the proposal foremost.

How long is the residency? The residency is one month long with the possibility of future collaborations.

Is there a stipend? Yes, honorarium is $2,000.

What is the production budget? The production budget depends on the scope of the project but is approximately $5,000. Do not feel obligated to exhaust the production budget; some of our best products started with a very small budget. A detailed project budget is not required, but feel free to indicate costs if you are familiar with the production processes associated with your proposal.

What factors are the jurors looking for? Workshop Residence staff will screen proposals for feasibility and relevance for our growing collection of products. The jury will select for quality, creativity, and how the product relates to each applicant’s background or body of work. Please peruse our existing collection before proposing a product in order to avoid direct overlap in concept, material, or form.

If my proposal is chosen and we develop a product, how will I benefit financially? Workshop Residence covers the production budget, travel expenses, and honorarium up front. After recovering these expenses, profit from sales of the first production run will be shared 50/50. If we re-issue the product, the resident receives a royalty of 25% of profit from subsequent editions.

Does the proposal have to be for a product or can it also include unique art works? The proposal should focus on a useful object; however, past residencies have often resulted in unique works or limited editions as a compliment to the products. Although we don’t restrict proposals, we strongly recommend that applicants focus on a specific product design that can be reproduced without limitation.

What mediums are encouraged? There are no restrictions – we’ve worked with anything from textiles and ceramics to fungus and toy robots. We strongly encourage you to visit our website and online store to review past project

What hours am I expected to work during the residency? Our studio is available to the resident artist 24 hours a day. Residents typically work weekdays from 10am-6pm when our staff is available for assistance and the shop is open to the public. There is no requirement but we like to have residents engage with our community and devote themselves “full-time” to this project during the residency period.

Who won last year’s competition?  Artist and furniture maker Christine Lee won the 2014 ARC. You can see her project here.

How many artists are in residence at a time? We host one residency at a time, but we are open to collaborations between multiple people (a single proposal from a group).

What are the housing and travel accommodations? We will provide a fully furnished one- bedroom apartment for the selected resident. We will offer up to $700 for travel to San Francisco (if necessary) and a sturdy bicycle for getting around town. If you need any special accommodations please just let us know.

Can international artists apply? Yes! We welcome applications from outside the US. Please keep in mind the limited travel fund of $700, and understand that you would be responsible for arranging the necessary travel visas and permissions.

Who selects the winner? Workshop Residence staff will screen proposals for basic feasibility and how they complement our growing collection. The jury selects the winner. The 2015 jury is:

Tim Brown, CEO and President, IDEO Leslie Roberts, Professor and Director of Design, CCA Andrew Glasgow, retired Executive Director of the American Craft Council. 

If I am not accepted into the program can I reapply next year? Yes, this program will be an annual part of our residency program and you are welcome reapply. We keep our favorite project proposals on file for future consideration.